How to Use In-App Messaging on the Web App

In-App Messaging helps you stay connected with Guardians, Teachers, and other school staff — all in one place.

Whether you want to follow up on attendance, clarify a class update, or start a new private conversation, everything can be done directly from the AOne Schools Web App.

Let’s walk through how it works.

Getting to the Messaging Page

Once you log in to the Web App:

1. Look at the top header.

2. Click the Message icon.

If you don’t see the icon, it means your role doesn’t currently have permission to view messages. Superadmins always have access, while Admins and Teachers need the proper permissions enabled.

When you open the page, you’ll immediately see all your conversations — both personal and group messages — sorted from newest to oldest.

If there are unread messages, the Message icon will show a number badge so you won’t miss anything.

Understanding Your Conversation List

Each conversation shows helpful information at a glance:

• Profile image

  • Personal chats use an initial-based avatar (e.g., Tiffany Alexander → TA).

  • Group chats use the group’s profile picture (or a default icon if none is set).

• Name

  • Personal messages show the participant’s name.

  • Group messages show the group name.

• Last message preview
  A one-line snippet of the most recent message.

• Unread badge
  A number showing how many messages you haven’t opened yet.

• Time label

  • “Today” if the message was sent today

  • Or a date format (DD/MM/YYYY) for earlier messages

If there are no messages yet, you’ll see an empty state instead of the list.

Opening and Reading Messages

Simply click on any conversation to open it. If the message was unread, it will automatically be marked as read once opened.

Inside the chat room:

• Messages are grouped by date.

• Today’s messages show under “Today.”

• Older messages show their date (e.g., Mon, 06 January).

Chat Bubble Colors

• Messages from the other person appear on the left in light blue.

• Your messages appear on the right in darker blue.

Under your messages, you’ll see:

• Single check → Sent

• Double check → Delivered

Sending a Message

Type your message in the text box at the bottom. You can:

• Use text and emojis

• Press Enter or click Submit to send

Messages won’t send if:

• The text box is empty

• It contains only spaces

The text area expands automatically for longer messages (up to 5 lines).

Searching for a Conversation & Filtering Messages

If your conversation list is getting longer and harder to scan, the Search bar at the top is the easiest place to start.

Simply click on the Search bar and type the name you’re looking for. You can search by a person’s name for personal chats or by a group name for group conversations. There’s no need to type the name perfectly — the search is not case-sensitive, so “alex,” “Alex,” or “ALEX” will all show the same results.

You also don’t need to remember the full name. The search supports partial matches, which means typing “Alex” can bring up results like Alexander, Alexa, Alexis, or even group conversations where someone named Alex is a participant. Just enter what you remember, then press Enter or click Search to see the results.

If you want to narrow your results even further, click the Search & Filter button. From there, you can refine your list by selecting one or more filters:

• Status (Read or Unread)

• Type (Personal or Group)

• User Role (Guardian, Admin, Superadmin)

You can apply a single filter or combine multiple filters at the same time. Once you’ve made your selections, click Search to apply them. If you’d like to start over, simply click Reset to clear all filters and return to the full conversation list.

Starting a New Personal Message & The Notification

If you have permission to create messages, you’ll see the Create New Message button at the top.

Here’s how to start a personal chat:

1. Click Create New Message

2. Select Personal Message

3. Choose a user from the list

4. Send your first message

To make it easier to find the right person, you can search or filter the user list by role (Guardian, Teacher, Admin, etc.). If you’re messaging a Guardian, you’ll also see the names of students enrolled in your school listed under their account.

Once you select a user and send your first message, the system will automatically:

• Reopen an existing conversation if one already exists

• Or create a new one after your first message is successfully sent

At the bottom of the screen, you’ll find the text box where you can type your message. You’re free to use text and emojis to express your thoughts. When you’re ready, press Enter or click Submit to send it.

To prevent accidental sends, the system won’t allow empty messages. If the text box is blank or contains only spaces, the message won’t go through. As you type longer messages, the text area will automatically expand — up to 5 (five) lines — giving you more room without disrupting your flow.

When someone sends you a message:

• You may receive a push notification (mobile app users).

• Or a web notification (web app users).

If multiple messages are sent within a short time, they may be grouped into a single notification. However, if you’re already inside that chat, you won’t receive an extra notification.

Managing Read Status and Archived Conversations

Keeping your inbox organized is simple, and the system also helps you stay aware of any changes to conversation participants.

Mark All Messages as Read

1. Check your conversation list for unread messages.

2. If there are unread conversations, the Mark All as Read button will be enabled.

3. Click Mark All as Read to instantly mark all unread conversations as read.

4. If all conversations are already read, the button will remain disabled.

Chatting with Archived Users

If a conversation participant becomes archived:

1. Open the conversation to review previous messages. You can still read the full chat history.

2. Look for the Archived icon next to the participant’s name.

3. Notice the information banner displayed inside the chat, indicating the archived status.

4. Be aware that sending new messages in this conversation will not be available.

In-App Messaging is designed to help you communicate clearly and efficiently — all within a secure and organized space.

If you need further assistance, please contact your school administrator or support team.